Covid-19 masks trouble in South China Sea
By Carlyle A Thayer*
COVID-19 impacted disputes in the South China Sea in two ways. First, there were no face-to-face meetings between ASEAN members and...
US ramps up more active Arctic strategy
The U.S. Navy released its strategy Tuesday on how the service plans to become more active in the Arctic as the region opens up...
Taiwanese MP urges closer Aussie ties
A senior Taiwanese politician has called for greater security and economic cooperation with Australia as his nation tries to counter China's increasingly assertive military,...
Australia pulls out of International Maritime Security Construct
The Australian Defence Force has concluded its contribution to the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) in the Middle East, Contact reports.
Personnel from the Australian...
Australia needs more links with democracies, fewer with China
By Peter Jennings*
Here’s a priority list for Foreign Minister Marise Payne’s foreign arrangements taskforce to apply the Australian government’s new veto power over states’...
Russia and China team up on Indian Ocean
Two recent naval exercises demonstrate the potential for Russia-China cooperation in the Indian Ocean, and how the two present a much greater threat to a...
Blue crime’s toll in the Pacific
Serious offences are taking place on, in, or across the Pacific maritime domain that put at risk the political stability and economic interests of...
Mauritius makes play for Diego Garcia
When Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth joined other government leaders to congratulate U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, his message touched on the diplomatic storm brewing...
US challenges Russian claim to bay
The Navy on Tuesday sent another warship to challenge maritime claims in the Western Pacific, this time in an area claimed by Russia, according...
China moves on PNG-Australia fishery
A $200m Chinese-built fishery plant planned for a Papua New Guinean island could allow Chinese-backed commercial vessels to fish legally in the Torres Strait,...